Water-tower



(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 1. M. BURNS. WATER TOWER.

No. 439,383. Patented Oct. 28, 1890.

1 oo 2 Ii 1 (No Model.) 7 4 Sheets-Sheet 2. M. BURNS.

WATER TOWER.

No. 439,383. Patented Oct. 28, 1890.

4 Shets-Sheet 3. M. BURNS.

WATER TOWER.

(No Model.)

Patented 0012.28

4 SheetsSheet 4.

(No Model.)

M. BURNS.

WATER TOWER.

No. 439,383. vPatented Oct. 28, 1890.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MICHAEL BURNS, OF MILVAUKEE, IVISCONSIN.

WATER-TOWER.

SYEGIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 439,383, dated October28, 1890.

Application filed October 31, 1888. Serial No. 289,622. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, MICHAEL BURNS, of Milwaukee, in the county ofMilwaukee, and in the State of W'isconsirnhave invented certain new anduseful Improvements in \Vater- Towers; and I do hereby declare that thefollowing is a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

Myinvention relates to that class of portable fire apparatus which isdesigned to e11- able one or more streams of water to be thrown from anelevated position, and the superstructure of which is of an extensibleand collapsible nature, so as to be readily ele vated for use anddepressed upon its supporting-vehicle for transportation to and from theplace of conflagration.

My invention consists in certain peculiar and novel features ofconstruction and arrangement, as hereinafter described, and pointed outin the appended claims.

In order that my invention may be fully understood, I will proceed todescribe it with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which--Figure 1 is a view partly in side elevation, partly in verticallongitudinal section, and partly broken away of a water-tower truckconstructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a horizontalsectionof the lower portion of the water-tower on the line 2 2 ofFig. 1. Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section of the truck or vehicleon the line 3 3 of Fig. 1. Fig.4 is a similar view 011 the line 4 4 ofFig. 1. Fig. 5 is a detached viewin side elevation of one of the staysfor the truck or vehicle. Fig. 6 is a horizontal section of the uppertelescopic tower-section on the line 6 6 of Fig. 9. Fig. 7 is a frontelevation of the lower part of the lower tower-section, showing aportion of one of the telescopic towerstays. Fig. 8 is a horizontalsection of the upper telescopic tower-section on the line 8 S of Fig. 9.Fig. 9 is a central transverse vertical section of the uppertower-section. Fig. 10 is a horizontal section on the line 10 10 of Fig.9. Fig. 11 is a transverse vertical section of the upper part of thelower towersection. Fig. 12 is a plan view of the top of the uppertower-section and also a horizontal section of the water-pipe on theline 12 12 of Fig. 13. Fig. 13 is a front elevation of the upper part ofthe rigid water-pipe with its nozzle and operative connections. Fig. 14is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 15 is a horizontal sectional-detail on the line 15 15 of Fig. 13. Fig.16 is a front elevation of theapparatus, the tower being extended to its full height.

The objects of my invention are, first, to produce a portablewater-tower which shall combine lightness, compactness, and strength, sothat it can be readily and rapidly trans ported and at the same time becapable of erection to a great height; secondly, to render the towercapable of very rapid erection and collapse, and to enable it and itstruck or vehicle to be instantly braced against capsizing while in use;thirdly, to enable the erected tower to be quickly turned axially fromthe ground, and to enable the nozzle to be properly depressed andelevated either from the ground or from any point upon the tower, and,finally, to further insure the stability of the erected structure by awaterballast taken from the current of water entering the tower. Theseresults I attain by virtue of the construction which I will now proceedto describe.

Referring to the drawings, A, Fig. 1, designates the truck-frame, whichis of the usual elongated form and supported at its front and rear endsby carrying-wheels in the usual manner. Upon the front end of this frameis mounted a base-plate 13, preferably of circular form for the sake oflightness, and upon this base-plate rests a turn-table O ofcorresponding form to the base-plate.

The turn-table O is centered upon the upper end of the king-bolt a ofthe truck, and the lowersection of the telescopic tower rests upon thesaid turn-table. This lower towersection is of rectangular form incross-section, it being composed of two oppositely-disposed pairs ofuprights b, one pair at each side of the truck-frame A when the tower isin its normal position. The uprights of each pair are connected byhorizontal rungs j, while the two pairs of said uprights are connectedby rungs j, so that a ladderis provided at each of the four sides of thetower-section. Upon opposite points from the king-bolt a the turn-tableC carries two vertical lugs d, to each of which is pivoted by a pin 6one end of a 1 pairs of toggle-arms f f.

strap-plate c. The lower ends of each pair of uprights b are firmlysecured to one of these plates 0, and thus the lower tower-section, aswell as the entire tower, is capable of being tilted over rearwardlyupon .the truck in hinge fashion. The mechanism for thus tilting thetower is as follows: h designates a hub, which is trunnionedhorizontally between two lugs 2', which extend upward from the frontpart of the turn-table O, and through this hub extends a rod D, thefront end of which carries a crank-arm or equivalent appliance forimparting axial rotation to the rod, suitable shoulders confining thehub in position upon the rod. The opposite end portion of this rod isexternally screw-threaded to receive a nut g, which is preferably ofgreater thickness at its middle than at its ends, and to the oppositesides of this nut are pivoted the adjacent ends of two The upper ends ofthe upper toggle-arms f are pivotally connected to the opposite rearuprights I), while the lower ends of the lower toggle-arms are pivotallyconnected to opposite points on the turn-table 0. Thus it will be seenthat by revolving the screw-rod D in one direction the nut 9 will bedrawn toward the hub h and through the pairs of toggle-arms will raisethe tower, while by revolving the rod D in the oppositedirection the nut9 will move toward the outer end of the rod, and thus depress the towerhorizontally upon the truck. When thus depressed, the lowertower-section rests upon a rigid cross-bar x, which is supportedhorizontally by two vertical standards so at opposite sides of thetruck-frame. In its descent into this horizontal position the lowertower-section comes into contact with a vertically-movable horizontalcross-head the ends of which loosely embrace two vertical standards alocated at opposite sides of the truck-frame a considerable distance infront of the standards a, above described. Midway of the length of thiscross-head is a pendent rod 00 and a spiral spring 03 which surroundsthe upper part of this rod, is interposed between the upper side of thetruck-frame and the under side of the cross-head, thus serving to retainthe cross-head in raised position. The lower end of the rod x is pivotedto a crankarm y upon a horizontal rock-shaft g, which extendstransversely of the truck-frame and has its bearings beneath the same.At its outer end the rock-shaft y is provided with rock-arms g for apurpose to be presently described. Near the front end of the truckframe,and at opposite sides thereof, are piv oted two stay arms or braces Y.The attached ends of each of these braces are horizontally pivoted to acasting, through the arms of which is passed a vertical pivot-pin Z thatpasses also through brackets attached to the side of the truck-frame. Aspiral spring Z. surrounds this pin Z and its ends are so attached tothe adjacent parts of the hinge as to throw the brace outwardautomatically, as presently described. The outer end of the casting towhich the brace is horizontally pivoted is formed with a segmentalratchet-section Z which is engaged bya spring-pawl Z pivoted upon anadjacent part of the brace. Now, when the tower is resting upon thecross-head x it holds the same in normal position and the latter holdsthe rock-arms g in their raised position, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4, andthe free ends of the stays Y lie horizontally within said rock-arms.When, however, the tower is raised, the spring 00 turns the rock-shafty, so as to depress the-rock-arms if. The springs Z instantly throw thebraces Youtward and the .free ends of said braces drop upon the ground,where they are retained rigidly by the pawls Z and ratchet-segments Zthus effectually steadying the truck-frame against strains from the tallextended tower.

In order to add to the stability of the truck, an elongated horizontalwater-ballasting tank or reservoir WV is mounted centrally upon thetruck-frame A, and a water-pipe W extends above and downward along therear end of this tank. The lower end of this downward extension of pipeW is provided with a deltacoupling W and just above this coupling with abranch:coupling connected to the end of the tank, a three-way cock Wbeing located at this latter point. The upper forward end of this tankis connected by a valved branch W with the water-pipe W. One or moreengines or plugs are connected to the coupling W and ordinarily thevalves W W are so turned that the water shall flow directly throughthepipe W to the water-tower, (a flexible pipe W being connected to thefront end of the pipe W for this purpose,) and the stays Y being usuallyeffective for steadying the truck. During the prevalence of high winds,however, the tank should be filled, and this can be readily accomplishedwithout interrupting the action of the engines or plugs by turning thethree-way valve W and opening valve WV, so that the flow to the tower isnot affected.

The water-tower is composed of the lower section, before described, andan upper section, which is arranged to move telescopically within thelower section. The uprights b of the lower section are formed on theirinner sides with V-grooves to receive the uprights 7c of the uppersection, and these latter uprights are connected together and in pairsby rungs m in similar manner to the uprights of the lower section. Nearthe bottom of the lower tower-section is journaled a horizontalcrank-shaft N, which at its ends carries worms n, and these worms rotateworm-wheels E upon two shafts E, which are journaled upon opposite sidesof the lower tower-section and at right angles to shaft N. The shafts Ecarry sprocket-wheels E beneath which pass endless sprocket-chains F.Near the upper end of the lower tower-section are journaled shafts G,which carry sheaves G, over which the said sprocket-chains F pass. Theinner strands of these chains are connected atn to the lower part of theupper tower-section, and it will be seen that by turning the crankshaftin one direction or the other the upper tower-section can be raised orlowered telescopically within the lower section by correspondingmovements of the inner strands of the sprocket-chains.

Vithin the upper tower-section are secured a suitable number of crossspider-plates 0, each of which is formed with a central hub or opening0, through which works a section of rigid pipe P. The lower portion ofthis pipe-section is embraced by a ring (1, which is confined betweencollars q g on the pipe, and to which are secured the ends of ropes,chains, or other flexible connections 1). These flexible connections runover sheaves (1 which are carried by the uppermost spiderplate 0, andsaid connections extend thence downward to the truck-frame, where theyare suitably stopped in eyes 13 It will thus be seen that when the uppertower-section is elevated by the crank-shaft N it will automatieallydraw the pipe-section P upward so that said pipe-section shall extendwell above the upper tower-section, as shown in Fig. 16. The upper endof the flexible pipe V before referred to, is connected to the lower endof this pipe-section P. Upon the upper end of the upper tower-section ismounted a cap R, which also has a central hub or opening, and upon theupper side of which are mounted four sheaves r. The cap R is alsoprovided with four horizontally-extending arms R, upon the outer ends ofeach of which is mounted a sheave r. The pipe-section P extends upwardthrough the opening in the cap-plate R, and the shank t of a flexiblenozzle to is tightly inserted into the upper end of the pipe P, and atthis point said shank is surrounded by a loose collar 25. To this collarare connected four ropes, chains, or other flexible connections S, whichextend thence beneath the sheaves r and over the sheaves 0", their lowerends being stopped in the ring q, before referred to. Thus it will beseen that as the pipe-section is raised by the upper tower-section theflexible connections S, while permitting the pipe to rise, act assteadiers for the upper end of the pipe, and also brace it against thestrains produced by the hereinafter-described deflection of the nozzleu.

To the shank t of the nozzle to are pivoted at V twooppositely-extending rocking arms V, to the outer ends of which areconnected a pair of upwardly'extending arms U. These arms are eachprovided with a joint U near its lower end, and the upper ends of thesearms are pivotally connected to a collar 10, which surrounds the tip ornipple-u of the nozzle. A cord, chain, or other flexible connectionleads from the outer end of each rocking arm V to the ground, so that bydrawin g upon one or the other of these cords the nozzle can bedeflected downward toward one or the other of said rocking arms, asshown in Fig. 13. An arm it; extends from the collar to intermediate ofthe points of attachment of the arms U, and a cord or other flexibleconnection w leads from this arm 10 to the ground, and it will be seenthat by hauling upon the said cord w the nozzle u can be deflectedintermediately of its deflection by the cords n These deflections,together with the rotation of the tower by its turn-table, give acomplete circular horizontal range to the nozzle.

By reference to Fig. 16 it will be seen that by virtue of theconstruction above described the tower when fully extended in erectposition rises to a great height proportionate to the transverse area ofits supporting-truck, and that unless stayed from a point well upward onthe tower the latter would be liable to capsize, particularly during theprevalence of strong winds. In order to accomplish this result, Iprovide long brace-bars H, the upper ends of which are pivoted onopposite sides of the lower tower-section close to its top, and thelower ends of these bars are inserted into the upper ends of long hollowcylindrical sockets H These sockets are provided with long longitudinalslots H one edge H of each of which is serrated, the teeth thus formedinclining downward. An extension brace-bar H extends at its upperportion within each of these sockets H and cross pins or studs at theupper ends of these extension-bars euter the slots H and when the bracesare not in use rest in offsets in the upper ends of the slots. lVhen thebraces are to be used, the extension-bars H slide downward within thesockets H and their pins H engage within certain of the serrations H Itwill thus be seen that the long cylindrical sockets H afford anextensive and continuous bearing for the extension-bars H, so that aneffective and rigid connection is formed between the extension-bars andthe brace-bars l-I, notwithstanding the great length of the latter.

From this description it will be seen that the structure as a whole islight, durable, and compact, readily manipulated, and capable oferection to a great height proportionate to the area of itssupporting-truck,and yet perfectly secure and stable against capsizing.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new therein, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a water-tower, the combination, with a vehicle or truck frame, ofstays pivoted upon opposite sides of said frame, springs attached to thepivots of the stays and serving to move the latter outward from thetruck-frame, and a pawl-and-ratchet connection adjacent to the pivot ofeach stay serving to prevent upward movement of the latter,substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with a water-tower truck or vehicle, of avertically-movable crosshead mounted upon the truck-frame and arrangedto receive the folded tower, a spring operating to retain the cross-headin elevated position, a rock-shaft operatively connected .to thecross-head and extending transversely of the truck-frame, and rock-armslocated at the ends of said shaft and serving to retain and releasestaying-braces for the truck, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination, with a water-tower truck or vehicle, of awater-ballastin g tank or reservoir located upon the truck and ofelongated cylindrical form, a direct-service pipe connected to theopposite ends of said reservoir,"a three-way valve at the" rear endconnection of said pipe, and a valve at the front end connectionthereof, substantially as set forth.

4. In a water-tower, the combination, with a lower tower-section, oflateral braces therefor, consisting each of an upper bar pivoted nearthe top of said lower section, an elongated tubular socket secured tothe lower end of said bar and having a long serrated longitudinal slot,and an extension-bar working telescopically within said socket andhaving at its upper end a cross-pin to engage the serrations of saidslot, substantially as set forth.

5. In a water-tower, the combination, with a lower and an uppertelescopic tower-section, each of rectangular transverse area, andendless-chain mechanism, substantially as described, for raising andlowering the upper section, of a rigid pipe-section and flexibleconnections for raising and lowering said pipe by correspondingmovements of the upper section, one end of each of said connectionsbeing attached to the lower part of the pipe and the opposite end beingconnected to the lower tower-section, and said connections running oversheaves on the upper tower-section, substantially as set forth.

6. In a water-tower, the combination, with an upper tower-section havinga cap-plate provided with outwardly-extending arms and pulleys carriedby said cap and its arms, of a rigid pi pe-section workingtelescopically within the said tower-section, and flexible connectionssecured each at one end to the pipenozzle and at its opposite end to alower part of said pipe and passing under and over said pulleys,substantially as set forth.

7. The combination, with a water-tower, of a rigid water-pipe supportedtherein, a flexible nozzle connected to said pipe, a rocking arm pivotedto the shank of the nozzle, links connecting the ends of the arm to thenozzle, and ropes connected to the ends of the arm and extendingdownward therefrom, substantially as set forth.

8. The combination, with a truck or carriage and an extensible towermounted thereon, of a ballasting-reservoir, a pipe external to saidreservoir, adapted to convey water to the tower and connected to thereservoir so as to supply water to the same, and a threeway valvelocated at the point of connection of said pipewith the reservoir,substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

9. The combination, with a water-tower, of a rigid pipe supportedtherein, afiexible nozzle connected to said pipe, a pair of rocking armspivoted to the shank of the nozzle, jointed links connecting the armswith the upper part of the nozzle, and a line connected to the upper endof the nozzle intermediate of the points of connection of the links,substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand, atMilwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin, in thepresence of two witnesses.

MICHAEL BURNS. Witnesses:

S. S. STOUT, WILLIAM KLUG.

